The Red and the Black: A Chronicle of the Nineteenth Century (Oxford World s Classics)

Description

The son of a carpenter, Julian Sorel is inspired by the writings of Napoleon to conquer the heights of society. His initial plan to work his way up through the church is, however, thwarted when he is forced to accept employment as a tutor--and this rash social entrepreneur certainly has not considered the dangers of falling in love. Stendhal s novel is an amusing and piquant study of hypocrisy and free will in post-Napoleonic France.

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Little appreciated in its day, this 1831 classic by Henri Beyle (that was Stendhal s real name) tells the story of the rise and fall of Julien Sorel, a man of affairs in every sense. It s also a scathing indictment of a materialistic society, France under the Bourbons and an irresistible chronicle of love, politics and manners. The book now resides securely on most short lists of the world s great novels.